FLASH, HIV/AIDS Presentations for Parents/Guardians: March 7 & 9
ISD will offer two presentations for parents/guardians of fifth grade students to preview the district’s Family Life and Sexual Health (F.L.A.S.H.) curriculum. The presentation is designed for adults only and includes laws and district procedures, curriculum and options for exempting students.
The presentations are for parents/guardians of fifth grade students at all ISD elementary schools and will last about 1.5 hours. Both sessions are the same.
- Thursday, March 7, 2024, 6 p.m., ISD Administration Office
- Saturday, March 9, 2024, 9 a.m., ISD Administration Office
*In 1998, the Washington State Legislature passed the Omnibus AIDS Bill. This law directs local school districts to provide yearly instruction to students in grades 5-12 about the pathology and prevention of the HIV/AIDS virus. Under the Federal Hatch Amendment of 1974, all sexual education instructional materials must be available for parent inspection.
If you have questions, please contact Michelle Pickard, Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning Services, or call 425-837-7076.
Final Deadline for AP Exam Registration and Payment is March 8
If you plan to take an AP exam in May, you must register and pay by Friday, March 8. Register for your exams in College Board AND complete the registration and payment process in Total Registration. You exams will not be ordered if left unpaid. If you have questions or concerns, please email Ms. Giesler.
Friday, March 15, is a Regular School Day
A reminder to families that Friday, March 15, is a regular school day for all students. This date was previously noted on the school-year calendar as a potential inclement weather make-up day and will now be a regular school day to make up for the Jan. 17 snow day. The updated 2023-24 school-year calendar is available on the ISD website.
ParentWiser’s “Goodbye, Anxiety” Webinar on March 19
In today’s world, who isn’t feeling stressed? From every day—work, school, relationships, social media—to the unprecedented, you may often feel anxious and overwhelmed. Terri Bacow, Ph.D., developed “Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry” to help you find relief. Register for this Zoom-only event on Eventbrite. The webinar takes place March 19 from 5-6:15 p.m.
Bond Advisory Committee: Audit Results, Bond Update, More
On Feb. 27, the Bond Advisory Committee heard an update about the results of the State Auditor’s Accountability Audit, listened to a presentation about the district’s enrollment data, learned about the implications of the Clean Buildings Act and more.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for March 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the District Administration Building. All of the committee meetings are open for the public to observe. Details about the committee, meeting materials and other information about the process are available on online.
Registration for 2024 Summer School is Open
In-person summer school will be held at Issaquah High School from July 8 to Aug. 2 from 8 a.m.-12:25 p.m.
This option is designed for students who:
- Failed a course(s)/need credit recovery.
- Did not take WA State History/NW Studies.
- Are incoming 9th graders enrolling in pre-algebra.
- Are multilingual learners.
- Are struggling to fit PE into their class schedule during the school year (first time enrollment).
Transportation is available for students who enroll in at least two of the three periods and will operate on a metro stop pick up and drop off. Grab-n-go breakfast will be available between first and second periods.
Online summer school is offered from June 18 to July 22 for students in grades 5-12 who want to:
- Improve grades (D or higher) for a high school level course.
- Accelerate their current math or science pathway (restrictions apply).
- Accrue a 0.5-10 credit to free up space in their school schedule.
- Take a course based on learning style.
- Take health class – CPR/first aid.
Please visit the Summer School webpage for more information about registration, course options, tuition and class times.
District Seeks Volunteers for Special Services Advisory Groups
The Special Services Department is seeking current ISD students and family members to join our Special Services Advisory Groups. As advisory group members, students and families will use their unique and personal experiences and perspectives to serve as advisors to help shape programs and improve Special Education Programming within the Issaquah School District. Interested family members or students are asked to fill out the Advisory Group Interest Form as soon as possible.
New Language Access Committee: Volunteers Needed
ISD is forming a Language Access Committee, which will help support their goal of ensuring everyone in our community can access information about their student(s), school and education—no matter what language they speak. If you care about inclusivity, effective communication and making a difference, you might be a great fit for this committee. Middle and high school students, staff, parents/guardians and community members are invited to apply to volunteer.
WANIC Open House for Current 10th, 11th Graders
Washington Network for Innovative Careers (WANIC) Skill Center offers preparatory college and career education. Current 10th and 11th grade students and families are invited to a spring open house to explore 2024-25 skill center program opportunities for high school juniors and seniors at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology on Thursday, March 21, from 5-7 p.m. Learn more at the WANIC website.
Superintendent Shares Video about Bond Accountability Audit
On Feb. 20, the Washington State Auditor’s Office released a report about its Accountability Audit of district bond expenditures. That day, ISD posted an announcement sharing the results, along with answers to common questions.
In a video update, Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick shares a video message about the results of the audit, as well as steps the district has taken to improve internal controls for monitoring, managing and ensuring compliance for the use of capital funds.
Neighboring Districts Report Cyber Kidnapping Attempts
While ISD has not received information about any cases of “cyber kidnapping,” several neighboring districts have reported residents being contacted by criminals. The district is sharing this information out of an abundance of caution for our community members. Cyber Kidnapping is not actual, physical kidnapping, but rather a scam to extort money from victims. In scams like these, the caller claims to have kidnapped a loved one and says they will hurt them if a ransom is not paid. Then, they demand payment through the purchase of gift cards or a wire transfer. The FBI states these calls typically target those whose first language is not English. The calls are usually from another area code and are not from the “victim’s” phone. The callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone so that you cannot call your loved one and/or law enforcement.
If you are contacted by someone suspicious asking you for money, safety officials recommend:
- ALWAYS contact law enforcement.
- Stop and think. Do the demands and claims make sense?
- Demand to speak to your loved one or have someone else attempt to contact them.
- Ask for answers or a code word only your loved one would know.
- Buy time and cooperate with law enforcement. Scammers want to expedite a ransom payment.
- Remember, these scams work by confusing and stressing out victims. Counter that by stopping and assessing the situation.
Five $1,000 PTSA Senior Scholarships: Apply by April 15
Are you planning to attend a 4-year college or 2-year college/vocational school? Apply for Issaquah High PTSA senior scholarships by April 15 for one of five $1,000 scholarships. Students applying must be in good academic standing and demonstrate a commitment to furthering education. Find more details here.
